Los Cabos is often in the news as a getaway destination of choice for the stars, from romantic flings by big-name actors to regular visits to Las Ventanas al Paraiso by Jennifer Lopez and her entourage.
The destination will be seeing even Hollywood luminaries later this year when the third annual Los Cabos International Film Festival (formerly known as the Baja International Film Festival) kicks into high gear from Nov. 12 to 16. The festival will feature premieres from international and Mexican directors, in addition to including indoor and outdoor film screenings, gala events and parties.
“The first year, there were 7,000 attendees at the festival, and in 2013, we doubled that figure,” said Alonso Aguilar-Castillo, general director of the Los Cabos International Film Festival. “We hope to do even better this year.”
The festival, which brings filmmakers, celebrities and A-list personalities from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada to Los Cabos, is designed as a platform for cultural and business exchanges in the film industry.
“We refer to it as a boutique festival,” said Aguilar-Castillo. “We program 30 to 40 films from Mexico, the U.S and Canada.
All films will have English subtitles. Entries from French-speaking Canada will have subtitles in both English and Spanish. The 2014 film festival will also include a musical dimension.
“This year, we’ve added an environmental aspect to the festival with documentaries on green practices and sustainability,” noted Aguilar-Castillo. “We also have an event in which we screen a documentary about a musical group and then immediately follow that with a party featuring a live performance by the group profiled in the documentary.”
Festival attendees will also have access to workshops and panel discussions. Prizes will be awarded to films in a variety of categories, with an emphasis on films made in Mexico.
“It’s an event that has glamour on the red carpet, with film celebrities from around the world attending,” said Aguilar-Castillo. “Depending on the hotel a visitor chooses, they might bump into celebrities in the hallway or have breakfast a few tables away in the hotel’s restaurant.”
High-profile celebrities who attended the festival in the last two years include Edward Norton, Matt Dillon, Josh Lucas, Gael Garcia Bernal and Melissa Leo. Peter Greenaway, the British director best known for his film “The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover,” hosted a master class during last year’s festival. The director who will host this year’s master class will be announced closer to festival dates.
Hotel partners for the festival include Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa, Hacienda Encantada Resort & Spa, and Marina Fiesta Resort & Spa.
“We encourage non-professionals to attend the festival,” said Aguilar-Castillo. “The final party will be filled with industry people, and there will plenty of opportunities to mix and mingle.”
A discounted early-bird festival pass is available on the Los Cabos International Film Festival website through September 2014.
The Details
Los Cabos International Film Festivalwww.cabosfilmfestival.com
